Question No. 14: It's a hairy leg emergency!

What is it about shaving your legs? You go along for all those years, not caring or not noticing that there's some hair on your legs. Then, all of a sudden, you can't stop noticing it.

Does the hair change or is it just that YOU have changed and suddenly you are NOT OK with hairy legs? Leg hair is today's topic of the day from E.P.

Dear PLS,I have big black hairs on my legs and I beg my mom to let me shave but she won't let me what do I do?E.P., 12

There are two important steps to take here: Talking to your mom and then learning how to remove hair safely. If your mom has said no, try a new approach. Have a longer conversation and try very hard not to get upset or angry.

Tell her calmly why you want to shave your legs. Are you being teased? Does the hair make you feel embarrassed to wear shorts and bathing suits? Ask if she remembers when she started shaving her legs and the reasons why she wanted to start.

Ask your mom to please show you how to do remove leg hair safely. You might mention that you're willing to try any method she thinks is best. Some moms are worried about girls using razors because they're sharp. Other moms just don't want their daughters to shave their legs because it feels like the girl is "growing up too fast."

If after a calm, mature talk, your mom still says no, what can you do? Ask her at what age she will feel comfortable with you shaving. At least you can negotiate a future date when you can start shaving. Goodbye, hairy legs!

Any other advice for E.P.? How did you convince your mom? And what was it like the first time you tried shaving?

152 Comments:

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Love Pink said...

My mom just brought it up one day so I can't really help but all I can say is try telling her in a mature way and not at a time where u and her r in a hurry. That will help her think u r more mature if u bring it up like ur mature. That's what my friend said she did and it worked!

the way i started shaving was i asked my mom hey i have the last cotillion tomorrow can i shave my legs and she said yes because my legs are very hairy tell your mom hey i kinda need to shave my legs there r really hairy if that doesnt work send her a email or text or leave her a note telling her hey i kinda need to shave or use a special event to ask your mom to shave or ask pls how to ask her

I told my mom that I didn't feel comftorable with how long the hair's were getting on my leg's so I asked her " Can I start shaving my leg's? " and she said that she would teach me. I was scared at first but when she took a little patch of hair off, I realised it didn't hurt a bit! Then she taught me how to shave my leg's by myself and then she told me to be very careful, now I shave every week.

You guys are crazy! I live in London so things are different but have you ever noticed how your dad shaves in the morning but has stubble by 6 pm? I went my first time with my mum to have my legs waxed and stubble didn't come for 2 MONTHS. It hurts the first time a tiny bit but doesn't the next. The cost works out equal to the cost of razors and shaving gel and you will have silky smooth legs doom after! Good Luck :)

My legs were starting to get kind of boyish and it was finally pointed out to me by a friend. That weekend, I asked my mom when she started shaving and as it happened, I was that age. We went up to the bathroom and she taught me the do's and don'ts of shaving.I know it will be awkward at first to ask your mom, but it will be worth it in the end.

Hey Lol the first time i tried shaving is when i was two years old i was copying my dad (he wasn,t aroud me to stop me at the time) and i had no shaving cream on my face i just grabbed a razor and tried shaving my chin LOL! i got a huge scar.

Well i really want to ask my mom to shave but im TOO scared like i tried texting but i chickened out but when we were on Vacation she caught me shaving she said that i could shave then she said NO! any advise .P.S. i have really black hair on my legs and im 10! but my mum has like really light hair? she hasnt shaved in like 2 weeks ??????????????

It was winter. I was upstairs sitting in my room when I noticed something, my legs are really hairy. I started being really annoyed by it and I always would wear leggings, tights, or pants. In the summer, I had to wear shorts. So I asked my mom. I went up to her room, and I said, "Mom, I noticed my legs have a lot of hair." She said "Really?" I said "Well, yeah, and it's dark in color." She said "Let me see." I showed her and she said "Are you saying you want to shave your legs?" I said "Well, will you teach me?" She brought me into the bathroom and showed me what I would need. She said I should get my own things. The next day, she came home with a bag. It contained shaving cream, a razor, and a little bowl to put water in. She put it in my bathroom and called me in. She showed me how to shave my legs. I cut my self the first time, and then I was afraid to try again! In a week, I tried again. I was successful, and my legs were soft and hair free! I have to shave every 2-4 days.I thought it was scary, but a cut lasts maybe 2 days, it is NOT that bad. Don't be afraid to talk to your mom or shave.

I have longblack hairs on my legs and i also have it on my arms. I also have underarm hair. I try to ignore it but I just can't because I just feel insecure. I am only 10. It bugs me like crazy. It actually got to the point were I wore long pajama pants to hide my leg hairs last week at my best friends sleepover. I am super shy and I am scared to tell my mom about it. She relizes that I have started puberty but I'm afraid she won't let me start before school starts up again. I scared that I will get made fun of. I know how to shave and I've actually tried to take a little patch off it doesn't hurt. I'm just don't want to be bullied.

I have the same problem! I tried asking my mom if I could shave my legs cause' I was a little embarrased and she said I'm too young (I'm 13!). Try asking your mom of she could teach you beacuse it's a little embarrasing for you when you wear shorts.

One day I noticed my friends all shaved their legs, so I asked my Mom if I could too. (It was winter, so I was pale, and I have dark hair) She showed me how, it took me a little while to get used to it, but it wasn't that bad. I suggest telling her that it REALLY bothers you.

I didn't start shaving until right before 8th grade. Both my step mom and my dad had made a couple of comments about how it was time for me start shaving, but I didn't really pay very much attention to it. Then, when I went school shopping with my step mom, she bought me some razors and told me that i needed to start shaving and how to do it. For some girls, like me, leg hair doesn't start getting long and black until later. But for some girls, like my sister, you can start needing to shave as early as 4th or 5th grade. Try talking (calming and maturely) to your mom about how uncomfortable your leg hair makes you and that it's becoming embarrassing to wear shorts and if she doesn't want you to yet, listen to what she has to say because chances are she has a valid reason.

Shaving your legs is a big responsability. You need to remember if you start to shave you need to do it regularly. And if your mom wont let you shave don't sweat! The time will come when she takes you out buy a razor. But the more you think hairy legs the worse you might feel about it. So do your best to just forget about it untill the times comes when your mom thinks your ready.Hope I helped! And dont worry the same thing happened to me:)Sarah

I've used Veet on my underarms. Veet is a cream that separates the hair from the skin. After a few minutes you can pluck off your hair painlessly(or use a specialized razor with no blades that comes with the pack.)

DO NOT use Veet if you have a cut or shaved. Also don't use Veet down there.

I am almost 11 and have super hairy legs. I asked my mom to shave my legs but she wouldn't let me! Now I want to shave my armpits because people point out the hair on them out to me but I'm afraid if I ask my mom she'll say no. what do I do???? please tell

I started shaving when i was like 10(im 12 now) i didn't ask or anythkng because i was with my dad an brother so it was awkward.. i bought a razor and it took me a few days to try. I had my best friend tell me how and now i shave like everyday! The hair grows back SO fast though for me so thats why i do it so often. It doesn't hurt at all for me but ive never cut myself before. If uour scared ask your mom to help you the first couple times and you should be able to do it on your own within no time :) Good luck!

no one notices the hairs as much as you do. Unless someone crouches down and stares at your calves (and why would you care what that kind of person thinks anyways?) they don't really stick out.We all notice every single one of our flaws because we stare at ourselves, looking for them. If you really can't stand it, ask your mom about razor - free options, like Nair, a cream-type product, or what I use is Smooth Away, which you rub on your legs and the minerals brush them away painlessly. Hope I helped!

i wax my arms coz they are sooo hairy!! my legs are even more hairy. at first when i asked my mom, she said, "no ur too young!"(i was 13 now im 15)then, when they became evn more noticable, my younger cousin sister started teasing me! & she was aloowed to wax her arms!! 2 years younger than me. I was really upset & started crying. evn my brother used to make fun of me. THEN! my mom sed alryt, i'll show u how it done.:) The second time i tried waxing,(all on my own) a drop of "hot hot" wax fell on my arm. & that burn mark is still there. u can use creams like "veet" or "nair" but make sure u arnt allergic to it. my mum was, & it turn her arm black! & if ur waxing, let sumone help u. Hope i helped! :)

The way i asked my mum was, we were at the shops(near the shaveing stuff) and i said to her 'I want to shave my legs' and she said ok. Then that night i shaved my legs, it's simple. But it is a bit embarrassing.Hope that helped! :)

im 11 and i am super hairy. people were teasing me about my leg and arm hair since i was 5. When i was 5 i had as much leg hair as my 13 year old cousin Shes a girl by the way. All the kids even my friend would call me wolf and howl. When my friend did it I was ready to punch her well she didnt call me wolf but she said i looked like a monkey. My other friend said i should forgive her because and i quote "she only called you monkey and she didnt even howl." I asked my mom if i could get rid of my leg hair and she said i had to use something that like yanks it out. I said i wanted to wax but she said no. Do you know what its called t yank it out

u should talk to ur mom. i understand wat u meen because i have hairy legs too. u should tell ur mom the reasons y u need it.im 13 and i told my mom the reasons y i need it and she bought me this hair remover cream.so now i dont have hairy legs lolz yayz! anyway good luck ! :)

I didn't have black hairs but I had heaps of blonde hairs on my legs that I hated so my Mum let me shave my legs. It was so exciting the first time and my legs felt so smoothy smooth.But now sometimes it gets a bit annoying shaving and you never get that feeling of super smooth velvety legs ever again plus your hairs grow back spiky and disgusting so you can't just go without shaving. :(PLus my legs are always dry now. Soemtimes I wish I had put it off for another year or so until I had black hairs. But the white hairs were pretty weird. :D

Well it was really strange for me, i just came up with the courage one day and asked my mom.... it was really awkward, but if you do it better then i did she'll probably say ya, if your hair grows really fast , like mine, shave 2-4 times a week, if not so fast, just 1-2 every week.

I know this doesn't sound like a good way to do it, but I did it and it worked, my mom didn't even get mad. Just go out and buy razor or get one of your moms extra razors and just tell her that you have a razor and you are going to shave your legs, then go shave your legs! It showed my mom how badly I really wanted to shave my legs, so she let me!

i was complainging alot 2 my mo and she said okay I will shave ur legs the day before school but hopefully after i someway shower her that i can do it i will shave them p.s i would recomed shaving every other day hair GROWS BACK FAST

@helpme I'm guessing you mean the Name/URL option that you select from the dropdown menu when commenting. That allows you to put a web address, but we prefer that you don't. If you put one in, don't worry about it, we usually just publish your comment without it.Think pink!Jemma

Try shaving after showering, for me it my legs smoother and I cut myself alot less. If your mom won't let you shave talk in a nice calm voice and explain shaving is apart of growing up, or you might have a special occasion coming up tell her that too.

i had REALLLY hairy legs but then i just said this to my mum " what can i do about my legs, there too hairy" and she just said "well you can start shaving them if you want" so thats what i do now even though i was the first out of my entire year group to do that but now other people do it too you wont be alone! and you should NEVER shave your arms EVER!

theres no shame in shaving youre legs at first i had the hariest legs ever and my friends were making fun of me and my best friend said ewww when she saw my legs so i begged my mum and told her my friends were laughing at me and eventualy she said yes and she told me how to shave my legs properly and i do it everyday and sometimes she gets annoyed when we run out of razors because its my fault its funny though so nothing wrong with begging youre mom best wishes amber happy shaving

I have dark hair but not that much, should I shave? It's noticable but ok. I'm kinda shy about it but none of my friends shave and I don't wanna seem more mature. I know my mum won't let me get my legs waxed!Also is it true that if u shave the hair grows back thicker and darker?Also is 11 to young to shave cuz I'm 11.Pls help!

Well my mom doesnt let me shave my legs either :( and i have blach hair and want to get ride of it, especially when guys look at my legs, but just were bottoms that make you look & feel beatiful. Stand strong and tell people that in your heart you know your beatiful if they tease you. Also ask your mom for an explainshun. My mom said she wasnt aloud to shave til 9th. So just stand up tall and rember your legs arent as important as your other features like straight a's. But if its bugging you that bad tell yourmom you feel self consions. She will understand (I think.) Hope it helps! :)

HEYYWhen I first asked my mum if i could shave my legs, i was in 8th grade. I didnt bother to ask her earlier because i knew that the answer was going to be no. BUT... in 8th grade, i met this guy that i really liked...he was the first one and i really didn't want him to see my legs like that. So I asked my mum if I could wax my legs(it really hurts first time but my skin is olive-ish and i read it somewhere that shaving your legs make 'em go darker and boy i didn't want them to go any more darker...I like my olivey skin)and guess what the answer was...a big fat NO! She said that i was too young to wax. But I begged her a couple of times and she finally agreed to. P.S. Sorry if this doesn't help but I just wanted to share my story :P

hello! :Di'm 13 and i have A HORRIBLE amount of leg hair. i'm always really embarrassed during sports and stuff but it's teaching me to be humble and also appearances aren't the most important thing! if it comes to asking your mom, just ask and tell her why.

So this has nothing to do with Shaving but i have a boy PROBLEMO! These boys at lunch ( I guess my shorts were to short one day on my waist) And they laugh at my bottom!!!!!!!!!! But when i s=ask why they do that they say " We are laughing @ your Face!) But i personally think i am very pretty! :) I have said STOP before but boys dont listen to girls very often x-(. Any advice oh and ONE OF THEM LIKES ME. Which leades on to how do you know if your crush likes you if he is quite? + How do you reject a boy niceley? Thanks guys youre all the best & i hope you have any adive for me? :)

I mention shaving to my mom and she said yes, but it took her a whole summer to go shopping for it, so I recently started shaving, the only problem is that my brother keeps playing with my shaving cream!!(He's older than you think)

i have hairy legs too i kno how you feel i have the hairiest hairs in my whole class even the boys have less then me but im just and tween and i dont even talk about wat goes on in school me and my mom arent close not at all same with my dad i know i could i just am scared and my leg hairs are black -..-

i just didnt ask , i told her about 2 yrs after im ten now she always told me i had super hairy legs then i got in the shower and shaved she did say i should try i tried too tell her i have been shaving for a while but i was not goin g to get in trouble that day

Girlfriend it will be all right. your mom went through the same thing. DONT worry me and my mom werent very close untill i started to talk to her. It might be werid but she is there for you, so just trust yourself. I no it is difficult, but everything is gonna be alright :)

ok so i totally have this problem and the other day i was like "sooooooooo mom, look how fuzzy my legs r (really fuzzy)" shes like "haha mine were way worse at your age" and then i didnt have the guts to say anything else. i already get my period so u think this wud be a breeze to ask but its not!!! all my friends shave their legs. i shave my pits! how do i ask to do my legs??

use veet under your arms if you're scared about cutting yourself and if you think it's emdarressing to ask your mom if you can shave, think how embarressing it will be when you need to tell your mom that you had your period.

One day my mom was doing my hair when I asked her,"Mom, I was just wondering when you shave your legs does the blade cut you?". She said it didn't and told me one day if I ask her she will show me how. I think you should just break down a question on shaveing and let fate choose the rest.

I have never cut myself when shaving. You have to go really slow at first. When you get better, go more quickly. I also think it has something to do with the sharpness and dullness of the blade. If it is dull, you can cut yourself: I think!

Im 10, my mum told me i was getting hairy on my arms, so she put Nair on, and it doesnt hurt. ive been using it for ages, as well as veet. it itches a little, but its fine. u can ask if u can use a cream then later say u cant use cream your whole life, can i shave?

I started shaving at the beginning of october. I asked my mom tot teach me but she said I wasnt old enough to shave but my hair was really long and I was going to California and i didnt want terrible legs so I just asked my sister to teach me. Its really easy. Get your leg wet, put shaving cream, reccomended satin care lavender kiss, or soap, use your rrazor and do not gk down. Dont push to hard on your leg but not to soft or you wont cut any hair off. Be very careful around your ankle. Good luck!

I'm kind of scared about shaving for a weird reason. My mum is ok about helping me shave my arms and legs but I'm scared about what my classmates will think. Since just before kinder garden/nursery I have had long black hair on my arms and legs. I haven't ever shaved my arms or legs so the hair is a centimeter at longest. Some of my hair follicles look like razor bumps and some of my leg hair curled up inside my skin. Now I'm scared to shave because I have no idea what it will look like afterward, what my class will think after all this time (we have to wear shorts for P.E. so there's no hiding my legs), worried about shaving almost every day, the pain of waxing, developing worse skin and the change of not having the familiar hairy legs and arms. Sorry about the long post.Please help.

My mum was cool about letting me shave! she got me a razor that doesn't cut your skin and showed me how to do it! she won't let me shave my arms though! My arms are the hairiest in the class! Anyways back to you! Why not ask your mum if you can use hair removal cream instead? It's safe and really easy to use!

first my mom noticed I got rreeeaaalllyyyy hot in the summer and waxed under my arms. then she waxed my legs. then she started bleaching my upper lip. My mom is totally the oposite to yours!!! You should feel good your mom is not like mine. Waxing my legs is the most painfull thing in the world!!!! I can relate to you though, because she never told me about peiroids and bras untill I asked and I was 11 (I still am)!!!!!Hope you convince your mom!

If you're afraid of talking to your mom, pick a time when you're completely alone with her. (I did it right before bed so she could sleep on it) Don't beat around the bush, just say it. "Mom, can I start shaving my legs?" If she seems unsure, back it up with solid reasoning, then give her time to think on it. It worked for me.

Ok girls, If your scared of useing a razor, try starting with nair or veet(hair removing products)and than once you ready, you can try using a razor(or keep using nair/veet) I use nair and it doesn't hurt at all and it really works. P.S, since shaving makes the hair grow back stiffer, try using St. Ives body lotion. It really works and makes it soft! Good Luck:)

1) If your parents don't let you on shaving your legs then don't try to convince them.2)Try not to wear like shorts that show your legs or skirts that show you legs, etc.3)try to wear like pants or jeans or something like that

E.P., do you have an older sister or an older female cousin? Maybe you can ask them and they'll help you. Talk to your mom and explain calmly and try your best. If it's not too hot, just stick to wearing longer pants, good luck with everything!

My Legs Have Been Hairy For The Longest, Im Just At A Point Where I Can't Stand All The Hair On My Legs. I Do Not Know How To Ask My Mom To Shave. I Could Use Some Advice On How To Ask Her. Pleasee Help Me. !!

@ Anonymous and Jessica,Don't be scared. Just think of how when your mom was your age going through the same things that you are going through now. I was super nervous last year when I was asking my mom if I could shave (I was 10!) but she was absolutely fine with it and she didn't understand why I found it so awkward! Just tell her that you think that you're ready to shave and if she decides to ask why, then say that summer is coming up in a few months and you want to wear your shorts, skirts, bathing suits (etc.) or something like that. Just remember that you're not alone and the more you talk to her about these things the easier it will get! Good luck :)

Hey I understand how of you feel I play volleyball and my mom wouldnt let me shave and I wore long sports pants through out the season. Later that year i asked my mom if I could shave and she said im too young.Then I found out my older cousin used "Smooth Away" before shaving so I asked my mom but then I realized how it worked so i didn't want to use it. So I found out about Veet, i also found out my aunt used it so my mom was ok with it. We went shopping and she said tomorrow we will try your under arms I said since it winter I wont use it on my legs I'll use it in the summer. So ask your moms and add that it doesnt hurt you skin!

hey so im 12, in 7th grade and my mom won't let me shave/wax my legs, armpits, and mustache. the hair i have is really black, and there is a lot. i have some really nice tank tops and shorts to wear in the summer and i cant because of this problem. my mom was waxing her legs in front of me once, and i asked if i could do mine, and she got really mad. also my family always talks about how my brother needs to start shaving his mustacche, and whenever they do, i put my head down so no one sees mine. my hair is worse, and im a GIRL! my aunt has told me many times that i need to wax my upper lip, and she said she would gladly do it. when she mentions it to my mom, she gets mad and says im too young. almost everyone does their legs/armpits/mustache and i feel like everyone is looking at me. i have to change quickly in the change room for P.E so no one sees me. im very insecure about this, and it is lowering my self confidence. im going to an event during june, and i have to wear a dress. asking will not work. please reply ASAP. im desprate. XD

My mom tried Veet on her legs and she said it works like a razor. I asked if I could use it and she said no. The next day she said I love how smooth my legs are and I said mom thats not fair why dont you let me do my legs then she said you can do it next week and now I have to wait 5 days I cant wait. Now i can wear my caprise. Good luck..

How I asked my mom is I am on spring break and my mom, brother, and I are going to a waterpark during the week and while I was trying on bikinis I noticed that my legs, and arms were getting pretty hairy. Then, when I lifted up my arms into a bikini I later got, my mom was like ''You really need to start shaving your armpits.'' So after we got sandals and flip flops and bikinis ( for me) we went to the store to get some razors and shaving cream\gel. I got this tropical blue gel\ clear, see through Venus razors and Satin Care Passonitate Fruit Shaving Gel. The secret to silky legs? Passionista Fruit Satin Care shave gel! Its rich formula, infused with the sparkling scent of juicy, fresh fruit, leaves your skin soft and satiny smooth every time you shave. That might sound corny, but it's true. And Venus razors are very good, also, and perfect for first time shavers like me. And now I have to go pack my suitcase, including my razors and shaving cream!!!

Im 12 and i asked my mom if i could shave last year she said well next year in the summer you can start.Its july and i asked my mom and she said well you dont want to shave the hair comes back even thicker i dont really care about that its ive been going to camp for two years it seems like at least one person tells me i should shave my legs. Also my dad makes fun of my hairy legs and asks me why i dont shave and i say mom wont let me please help meP.S im going to ask my mom tomorrow cause i go to camp in a week

You have two options: 1) just do it. I mean you already know how to. Or. 2) ask her calmly. Explain how she let you shave your armpits and how legs are basically the same. And, you could even ask her to do it. Cheesy I know... But it could work! Good luck!

Hi Pls guys. I am really embarrassed about my leg hair. I always wear tights leggings or pants. I am sooooo scared of asking my mom, because she can be strict and firm. I've never noticed it before but now

I havent asked my mum yet but I really want to start shaving all my friends laugh at me and call me names I only have a little bit of armpit hair and it's very blond i don't really care about my armpit hair cause I only where tshirts but my legs are a jungle of hair I already no how 2 shave I done it a lot but I'm scared my mum will figure out I'm using her razor how do I ask her?

2 things: 1) I just started shaving. I think my mum and my dad have noticed, but haven't mentioned anything about it too me. actually, the first time I shaved (2 years ago: I was 11 and started high school) mum was massaging my legs and she felt my freshly shaved legs and said, "you know when you start shaving, you can't ever stop right?" I nodded. so she doesn't really care tbh. 2) this is kinda a weird questions but it's important. are you supposed to shave your vagina? my hair down there is getting kind of out of control. you can see some poking out from my underwear and my bather bottoms. help! thanks X

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